Filling-feeler for looms.



-HL'LING FEELER ron'LooMs. APPLICATION FILED APR. 5|l95A Patented Dec.4, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- c; n. DRAPER a1. N'omHRoP.

FILLING FEELER FOR LOOMS.

` Armcmon man Ara. s. ma. 1,249,276. Pand Da. 4,1917.

llllmwl IVI/l UNITEDSTATES PATENT ernten. I

CLARE H. DBAPER AND JONAS NOBTHROPVOF HOPDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, SSVIG'NORSTO HOPEDALE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FILLING-FEELER FOR L0 OMS.

Specifications! Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed Apr115, 1915. Serial No. 19,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLARE H. DnArnn and JoNAsNon'rHner citizens of theUnited States, residing at lfopedale, in the county of Worcester andState of Massachusetts, respectively,'have invented certainnew anduseful Improvements in Filling-,Feelers for Looms; and Wedo herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in filling feclermechanisms for looms. In the weaving of high-grade fabrics it isdesirable to have afresh'filling inserted in the shuttle before the oldfilling It is undesirable, i

is entirely` exhausted.. however, that a bobbin containing` a largeamount of unused filling should be ejected from the shuttle, bothbecauseof the'waste of filling material and because of the loss of timespent in stripping the unused filling from the bobbin. The object of thepresent invention, then, is to produce a filling feeler mechanism whichWill operate to cause a filling replenishment when the filling on thebobbin has been exhausted to an extent beyond which it is unsafe toexhaust the filling, because of the liability of Weaving a short weftthread into the fabric.

To this end the present invention contemplates -a' filling feeler,mechanism in which the member for determining the amount` of filling on`the bobbin is caused to travel along and in engagement with thesmoothsurface of the `unwound portion of the bobbin, and engage theend=vvinding ot invention, 'Figure 1 is a plan `of a portion of theleft-hand end of a loom showing the improved filling feeler mechanism-attached thereto and the appurtenant parts of the loom, the feelerbeing shown in theposition of first contactingl with a filled bobbing["ig. 2 is'a planl similar to Fig. 1, showing whereupon the filling nreplenishment the position of the filling ieeler when the lay has'reached'its full forward beat; Fig. 3 is a plan of the filling feelermechanism Vshowing the positions of the parts at predeterminedexhaustion of the filling; Fig. 4 is a front elevation with the parts inthe positions of F ig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevation With` the parts inthe positions of Fig. l looking from left to right, with a portion ofthe shuttle broken away to show that part of the shuttle with which the.fillingr feeler controller contacts; Fig. 6 is a view similar to F ig.5 With the controller re` moved and the end of the filling feeler andthe slide supporting plate shown in section; and Fig. 7 is a detailviewof the filling engaging member.

The loom to which the improved filling feeler mechanism is attached maybe of any usual or preferred construction, and comprises a frame 10, abreast beam l1, a lay 12 carried, by a sword 13, a. detector arm 14mounted on the usual rock shaft 15 for setting the weft supply mechanismin operation, a weft hammer 17, a detector forlg- 18 and other usual andappurtenant parts. The shuttle 19 is provided with the usual slot Q() initsffront Wall. The improved fillingfecler mechanism operates upon,the

exhaustion of the filling on the bobbin, or filling carriere to apredetermined extent to draw the weft replenishing actuator 22 to theleftiinto the path of an arm or finger 23 on the weft hammer 17 which,on a forward beat, pushes forward the actuator 22 and the P detector arm14 thereby actuating the rock to reciprocate'forwardly and backwardlyupon a slide-supporting,plttte 27. Theslide supportingplate 27isprovid'ed with .fudown- Ward extension Whichis secured t a bracket 28supported by. `the breast beam 11. The

slide 26 is prQV'dd, on its under side `with a rib or keel 30 'whichis'received-gin'a slot El running A loiig'itudinally of,v the The keel'hasfafdepending bosa' plate.' '27:

with a hole which receives aleotterapilrtc Y ward the shuttle.

prevent upwa-rd movement of the forward end of the slide. A vertical pin33 secured in the rearward portion of the slide 26 is provided with ashoulder 34 which prevents upward movement of the rearward end of theplate. The lower end 35 of the vertical pin 33 is provided with a holein which is rigidly and adjustably secured a rod 36 of whichthe forwardend is loosely received in a bossa37 depending from the forward end ofthe`slide-supporting plate 27. A hellcal spring 38 embracing the rodtends to maintain the slide 26 in rearward position to- The extent ofthe rearward or shuttleward movement of the slide 26 is determined bytheengagement of a boss 40, which extends downward from the shoulder 41 ofthe filling feder, with a. boss` 43 extending up from the forward end ofthe slide-supporting plate 27.

The filling feeler controller which is adapted to 'be struck by somestructure carried by the lay and having a xed positionh relatively tothe bobbinvin this instance by the bobbin-holding jaws 45screws into aboss 46 projecting from the slide .26. A nut 47 serves to maintain thecontroller in adjusted position. rffhe filling feeler is mounted uponthe vertical pin 33 and is adapt-ed to tur-n thereon under thepropulsionof a spring 48 of which the forward end is received in a holein the shoulder 41 of the lling feeler, the other' end of the springbeing received in a hole in the boss 49 on the slide 26. The

filling feeler is provided with a forwardly extending tongue or camactuator 50. lVhen there is a substantial amountv of filling upon thebobbin, the controller 25 is not engaged by the shuttle; the fillingcovered bobbin, however, engages the filling :feeler upon the forwardbeat of the lay. nas

much as the pressure exerted upon the filling feeler is to the right ofits fulcrum the vvfilling feeler tends to rotate clockwise,`

whereupon the tongue or cam actuator 50 is pushed against a boss 51' onthe slide 26, so that, as the lay continues its forward beat the camvactuator is' carried forward inoperatively vfrom the position shown inFig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

When, however, the filling is vexhaustedA move anti-elockw1se underpressure by the 6|? ber comprises ahead piece '53 and a Shank,

pme 48- The fil-ling yfeeler is provided upon-its filling-engagingendwiththe filling e j ng member 53 which issli-dingly mounte` "upon thefeeler lever 24'andis yieldingly toward the lay. The fillingengagmg mem-54. The head piece has a smooth, angularly inclined face 55 taperingfrom the left forwardly toward the ri ht. The acute angle formedbetween. the ett-hand side of the head and its face serves as a tooth 56to engage the filling. The shank is bifurcatcd for the admission of aspring 57, the forward end of which takes against the rib 58 in thefeeler lever, while the rear end takes against the inner face of thefilling engaging melnber. The in 59 passing through the sides of theshank engages the rib 58 and limits the movement of the filling engagingmember toward the bobbin. Inwardly extending lateral ledges 60 on thefeeler lever provide bearin surfaces for the shank. It will be noted tat when the filling engaging member is in normal position as shown inFig. 7, a space separates it Afrom the end of the feeler lever.

to the left-hand endof the connecting rod by means of the set screw 66,while the rotary cam member 67 is loosely mounted thereon. The rotarycam 67 is provided with a downwardly 'extending lug 68 which is adaptedto be struck by the cam actuator' 5() on a forward beat of the lay, whenthe filling is exhausted to a predetermined extent. A helical spring 69,of ywhich one end takes against the upright 63 and the other against anVadjustable collar 70, tends toV force the fixed cam memb'ei'fi against,the

'rotary cam member 67 and the latter against the upright 63, whichlimits the rightward movement of the connecting rod. When the cam lug 68of the rotary cam 67 is struck by the cam actuator 5.0 and pushedforward, it is rotated-upon the connecting rod 62 so as to-force thefixed cam member tothe left, thereby drawing the detector arm actuator22 into the path of the finger 23, mounted on the weft hammer 17.

'The operation of -the improved filling feeler mechanism is described asfollows: So long as a substantial amount of filling remains upon thebobbin the filling engaging member 53A is engaged by it, and upon thecontinued forward beat of the lay the lcome exha'usted nearly to apredetermined extent the filling feeler controller struck vtermin'edextent, and therefore to a termined point toward the butt of the hobbythe bobbin-holding jaws and thereupon the filling feeler, relieved ofend pressure, tends to turn upon its pivot and move toward the left, thecam actuator nioving toward the'right to its operative position behindthe camlugS. This pivotal movement of the filling feeler whereby itsfllllng` engaging end is caused to move longivtudinally of the bobbin orfilling carrier is known as the filling feeler movement of the fillingfeeler. The cam actuator' is not brought behind the cam lug immediatelythecontrollerjs` struck nby the shuttle, for the reason that as thefilling engaging member of the filling feeler travels toward the leftalong and in engagement with the surface of the b'obbin, it is arrestedby engagement with tlie end winding of the filling, and upon eachsuccessive detecting pick it is likewise arrested as long as sufficientfilling remains y.on the bobbin. W'hen finally the filling has beenexhausted to a predepredebin, the filling engaging member will havetraveled toward the .left sufficiently to bring the cam actuator behindthe cam lug; thereupon the forward beat of the lay causes thejf `camactuator to engage the lugvand push it forward out of its path oftravel, thereby v causing the connecting rod 62 to be forced to the leftand the detector arm actuator to be brought into the path of the finger23, so that, upon the next forward beat of the weft hammer, thedetectora'rm actuator 22 and the detector arm are f'pushed forward,rotating the rock shaft 1'5 and setting in op erationA the Weftsupplymechanism.

y 'It will be observed that while the filling "feeler is swinging towardthe left it alsoy travels forwardly.. The effect of this doublesimultaneous movement of the filling feeler is to cause it to travelalong the surface ,of

Y the` bobbin in substantially a straight line.

But inasmuch as there is a slight curvature in this movement of thefilling-engaging end of the filling feeler, the filling-engaging endwould have a tendency to leave the bobbin, were not provisin made forcausing it always to travel along and in engagement with the surface ofthe bobbin after the filling thereon hasbeen sufficiently exhausted.`Moreover, there are variations in the size of the f hobbins;and'ii'sometimes, too, a bobbin is p0- sitioned obliquelv oreccentrically iri .the shuttle, maklngit also necessary to provlde meansfor compensating for the different v sizes of bobbins and' obliquelypositioned r.lbobbins `In order, then, that the slight y curvature'v in`the movement of the fillingengaging end ofthe filling feeler, andthe variations in the size ofthe bobbins, and an yoccasionally obliquelypositioned bobbin, #may not affect the accuracy of the operation of thefilling feeler, the fillingfeeler isv pro- .filling feeler.

vided with a filling engaging member which 1s spring-pressed toward thebobbinas hereinbefore" described. The longitudinal moveiment of thismember on the feeler lever is sufficient to compensate for thevariations 1n thcslzes of the bobblns and also for an obliquelyposltioned bobbin, so asto cause the filling-engaging tooth 56 to trave]along and'fin engagement with the surface of-.the

bobbin' and engage the end winding of the filling in the mannerhereinbefore described. This filling engaging member forms the chieffeature of the invention.

Another feature of the invention resides in the cooperative action ofthe filling feeler controller 2 5 and the filling feeler 24.I Theadvantages of this coperative action are" apparent when it is consideredthat the chief 'function of the filling feeler resides in determiningthe extent to which thefilling has been exhausted, and that the functionof the controller residesl in receiving the thrust of the advancingshuttle, first, to permit the filling feeler to turn on its fulcrumAyand follow the receding end windingof the filling, and secondly', tovcarry forward the operatively positioned cam actuator to set inoperation the filling supply mechanism. Sothat, in the coperative actionof the two members we have, engaged bythe filling on the bobbin,tocar-ry first, the filling feeler the cam actuatorforward'inoperatively until the filling approachesthe predeterminedpoint of exhaustion, at which point the con` troller comes intooperation; secondly, upon the a proach ofthe filling to `itspredetermined) exhaustiom the striking of some fixed portion of theshuttle against the contrel-` i,

ler, and the consequent tendency 4of the filling engaging membertotravelalong the exposed surface of thebbbin in following the unwindingfilling; and,- finally, upon `the exhaustion of the filling to apredetermined point on the bobbin, the arrival of the filling engagingmember a that point and the simultaneous arrival of the cam actuator inits operative position behind the cam lug; and, Icoincident thereto, theforward movement =of the cam actuator to effect a filling replenishment.i

From the foregoing description it appears that the filling feelercontroller is not brought into operation until the filling' is l quitenear= itsl predetermined extent of exaustion. Its time of operation,then, dei

ypends upon the extent Vto which the filling has been exhausted, asdeterminedby the And since the shuttle or some fixed surface thereondoes "not strike the ycontroller until the filling covered bobbin nolonger strikes the filling feeler and pushes it forward, and the fillingfceler cannot turn 'on rits .fulcrum until the shuttle strikes thecontroller, it may be said` that the filling feeler deer-mines the timeof operation of the sans in au of the bobbing being emptied to a uniformdegree, and for this reason The filling engaging memberv of the fillingfeelertravels along and in engagement with the smooth surface ofthe'bobbin under' the propulsion .gf a delicate spring whose expansivemovement is arrested by the slightest obstructionin the path of thefilling engaging member. Consequently, the bobbin must be unvvound tosubstantially a fixed point from its butt before the filling feeler canswing far enough toward the left to permit the cam. actuator to beoperatively positioned.

Viewed in its broader aspects, the invention is not limited to the useof any specific foi-in of feeler controller or means for holding theIfilling feclcr in normal position until the latter has been engaged bythe filling carrier. The invention is broad and generic in character,and constitutes a distinct and important advance in the filling feelerart, inasmuch as it is the first filling feeler mechanism wherein thefilling-engaging end of the fillin feeler is caused to movelongitudinally of t e fillingcarrier in engagement with the denudedsurface thereof and with the'end winding of the exhausting filling. Theinvention may be embodied in forms of mechanism other than thatspecifically described herein and still be within the.

scope of the claims. l

It is to be noted that theword bobbin has been ised herein as definingthe particular form of filling carrier illustrated in the drawings. The`invention is not limited to constructions 'emplbying this particularform of filling carrier as other filling carriers may be used ifdesired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A'fillingfeeler mechanism for looms comprising a pivoted feeler member mounted toyield with the lay, means for normally holding the feelcr member inposition to be engaged by the filling and in position so as not toaffect the loom operation, and means operative on predeterminedexhaustion vof filling to turn the feeler member to effect a change inthe .oom operation, said feeler member being arranged so that thepressure of the filling carrier against it tends to turn it in adirection opposite to that in which .it turns to effect a change intion.

Q. A filling 'feeler mechanism for looms having, in conbination, apivoted filling the loom operamounted for reciprocating and swinging.

movements, means for holding the filling feeler in normal position untilthe latter has been engaged by the filling carrier, and means forimparting the reciprocating and swinging movements to the filling eeler,said filling f'eeler being constructed and arranged so that asitswingsits filling engaging end presses against and moves along the denudedsurface of the fillin carrier and is controlled by the unwindingfilling.

4. A filling feeler mechanism for looms comprising 'a feeler lever, afilling engaging` member slidingly and yieldingly mounted on the feelerlever and arranged to receive the' pressure of the filling carrier.means operating to turn the feeler lever `when the filling approximatespredetermined 'exhaustionand means for rendering ineffective the feelerlever turning means While the feeler lever is in normal position.

5. A filling feeler mechanism for looms comprising a feeler leverafilling engaging member slidingly mounted on the feeler lever andyeldmgly pressed toward the'filling carrier to receive the impact of thefilling carrier, means rendered operative to turn the feeler lever whenthe filling approximates predetermined exhaustion, and means forrendering ineffective the feeler lever turnin normaposition, saidfilling engaging memvber having a range of Amovement such that itconstantly engages and travels along the denuded surface of the fillingcarrier while the feeler lever performs its turning movement.

6. A filling feeler mechanism for looms `comprising a feeler lever,means operating to turn the feeler lever When-the filling has beenexhausted to a predetermined extent,

means -rendering the feelelr lever turning means inoperative so long astheffeeler lever 1s not engaged by the fi ling carrier, and a meanswhile the feeler Vlever is in filling engaging member slidinglyandyieldu ingly mounted on the feeler lever to recelve the impact of thefilling carrier.

7. A filling feeler mechanism 'for looms comprising a feeler lever,means for pre.

venting the turning o'f the feeler lever until it has been engaged bythe filling carrier, l

whereupon the engagement of t filling with the feeler lever prevents theturning of the feeler lever until predetermined exhaustion ofthefilling, means effective upon predetermined exhaustion of .the -filliiigto turn the'feeler lever; and a filling engagin member slidiiigly andyieldingly mounted on tliefeeler lever havingr a range of move- 'mentpermitting. it to press against and travel along-the denuded surfaceofthe ,cariier while lhe feeler' lever' is performing its turningriioveme'nt.v 8.1A'looin having, ineoinbination, a lay, e shuttle, afilling carrier, and a filling feeler .i mechanism comprising a fillingfeeler constructed and arranged to engage and move along the denudedsurface of the filling carrier in engagement therewith and with thefilling when the filling has been exhausted to a predetermined extentand to be arrested in its longitudinal movement bythe filling until thelatter is exhausted to a predetermined point from the butt of thefilling ca rrier, means for actuating the feeler, and meansfor holdingthe feeler in normal position until it has been engaged by the fillingcarrier.

9. A filling feeler mechanism for looms Vcomprising a slide, :i feelerlever mounted thereon, a filling engaging member slidingly andyieldiiigly. mounted on the feeler lever and arranged to' receive theimpact of the 80 filling` carrier to'inove the slide forward uritii thefilling appioaches predelizri'i'iincfl exhaustion` land a `feelcrcontroller fixed on theslide andari'ai'igedto be engaged by the shuttleto moi-'ethe .slide forward when the the range of movement' of thefilling engaging member relatively to the feeller lever being suchthatiitcon'tinues to engage the filling carrierfivhile the slide ispushed forward bythe feeler controller, hul; 'does not communicate anir'pressure from the filling carrier to'the-feeler lever.

10. A Iillingfeelei'j mechanism for looms comprising a feeler' "evermounted to swing in a .plane substantially parallel with the ehorizontal piani'. of the filling carrier, having an arm arranged toproject into the shuttle and-engage Awith the filling carrier todetermine the amount of filling` thereon, means for actuating the feelerlever `to turn it and thereby 4eause its filling engaging end vto movelengthwise of the filling carrier, means for'holdin'g the feelerlevei-:aetuating means inoperative until the filliiig cai i -ier hasengaged the fceler lever,V and al filling aengagiug member mounted onthe feeler lever arm and yieldingly pressed toward the 'filling carrierha ving. a range oi movement .permitting itrto engage and travel alongthe GVO. denuded surface-'of `the filling carrier when the feeler leveris turned by its actuating i means. -4

711. .-i... loom having,V in lconibi nation, a' lay, a s'huttie, afilling carrier, and a filling feeler B5 mechanism comprising-'a fillingfouler afl-dptfilling approaches predetermined exhaustion,`

ed to have a filling feeling movement longitudinally of thefillin'g'earrie'ir1 saidfilli feeler consisting 'of a feeler lever and'a ETE ing engaging member slidiiigly mounted. on. the feeler lever andyieldingly pressed to- 'I0` ward the lay, and adapted o'n predeterminedexhaustion of' filling to movealong the denude'd surface of the fllincarrier in eli'- gagement with the end win ing of the filling and to beariestfedtliereby'until the fill- 75 ing is exhausted to a predetermineddistance from the butt of the filling carrier, means for imparting `thefilling feeling movement to the filling feeler, and means foulioldingthe filling feeler Vin normal position until it is engaged by thefillingcaiirier.

12. filling feeler mechanism 'for'looins comprising a support,aslidemounted on the support'for movenieiim toward and from v the lay,a.- feeler lever pivoted on theslide `arranged to bev engaged bythexfilling carrier on each filling feeling beatfp move the slideforward until the filling approaches. predetermined exhaustion, a feclercontroller fixed on the slide and arranged to be struck-by the shuttleto move the slide for- 'ward when the filling approaches predetermined`exhaustion to relieve the feeler'lever4 of the pressure of'tlie fillingcarrier, means operating te turn the feeler levenas thefill- 95iiigapproaches predetermined exhaustion, and av filling engaging memberyieldngly mounted onth'e `feeler lever and having' a.

-range of movement permitting'it to engage the filling carrier when theslide 1s moved '10o forward by the engagement of the shuttle with thefeeler controller. Y 13. A filling feeler mechanisml for loomscomprising a support, a. slide'V1 mounted on.

the support, a feeler lever onv the slide, n. V

feeler controller fixed 'on the slide, means i rendered effective whenthe filling has been exliaustedto a predeterininedextent to turn thefeelei` lever, and a filliiiggngaging member yieldingly mounted on ltliefeeler Vlever l haring a range of iiiovemfejnjt such that as the fcelerlever is turniiig,'the filling engaging member engages and travels alongthe dennded surface of the filling carrier, being4 "arrested in itstraveling movement by'the 115 end windings of the exhausting filling.

14-3; filling feelermeehanism for looms comprising a support,` aslidemounted on` the support and yieldingly. pressed toward the lay, a4feeler lever plvotedon`4 the slide",',120

a` feeler controller fixed on the slide and airranged to be struck bythe shuttl'eto move the slide when the filling lapproaches predteiniined exhaustion to permit the feeler` lever to turn, meansrenderedeffective when 126 the filling approximates predetermined ex liaustionto turn the feeler lever, and a fill-V i l ing engaging memberyielding'ly mounted on the feeler lever 'and arranged torecei-ve thepressure of the filling carrier to move the 13o lever being arreste'ling l slide a fillin mounted t ereon for movements toward and from thelay, a feeler lever pivoted on the engaging member yieldingly mounted ont ie slide arranged to be engaged by the filling carrier to move theslide forward until the filling approaches predetermined exhaustion, afeeler controller' fixed on the slide and arranged to be struck by theshuttle when the 'filling approaches predetermined exhaustion to morethe slide forward, 'thereby relieving the feeler lever of the pressureof the filling carrier, said filling engaging member having such a rangeof movement on the feeler lever that it continues to engage the fillingcarrier on the filling feeling beats, and means rendered operative toturn the 'feeler lever when the part of the filling carrier oppositeythe filling en gaging member has been completely denuded of filling, theturnin movements of thel feeler by the engagement of the filling enaging member with the end windings of t e filling until the latter has.,

reached a predetermined point from the butt of the filling carrier.

16. A loom having, in combination, a'lay, a shuttle, a filling4 carrier,and a lling feeler mechanism comprising a filling feeler adapted to havea filling feeling movement longitudinally' of the filling carrier and inengagement with the denuded surface thereof, said' filling feelingmovement of thev filling feeler being controlled in its longitudinalmovement by the exhausting filling, means for imparting the fillingfeeling movement to the filling feeler when the fil in is exhausted to apredetermined extent, means for holding the filling feeler innormalposition until it has been engaged by the filling carrier. y 1

17. A-loom having, in combination, 'a lay,

'a Shuttle, a filling'carrier, and a filling .feeler mechanism includinga pivoted filling 18; A looiii having, in combination, a lay,A

a shuttle, a filling carrier, and a filling e'eler mechanism including afilling feeler, a filling engaging member yieldinglymount.- ed ony thefilling feeler', and meansfor nievthe' filling feeler lengthwise of thefilling carrier.-

19. A loom having, iii combination, a lay,

a shuttle, a fillingl carrier, and a ,filling feeler mechanism includinga filling feeler having a spring actuated filling feeling movementlengthwise of the filling carrier,.

and. a filling engaging memberA yieldingly mounted on the filling feelerhaving provision "for traveling along the unwound surface of the fillingcarrier when the filling thereon has been exhausted to a predeterminedextent. 1

Q0. A loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, a filling carrier,and a filling feeler mechanism having a reciprocating slide, a fillingfeeler provided with an independently yielding filling engaging membermounted upon the slide, and means to cause a change in the operation ofthe lloom on movement of the slide when the filling on the fillingcarrier has been exhausted to a predetermined extent.

21. A loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, a filling carrier,and a filling feeler mechanism having a reciprocating slide, a fillingfeeler adapted to move lengthwise of the filling carrier provided withan independenti) yielding filling engaging member mounted upon theslide, and means to cause a change in the operation ofthe loom onmovement of thel slide when the filling on the filling carrier has beenexhausted to a predetermined extent.

2Q. A loom having, in combination, a lay, a shuttle, a filling carrier,and a filling feeler mechanism compri-sing` a feeler lever having anindependently.yielding filling engaging member reei-procatingly mountedon 'the feeleil leveradapted to move along the surface of the fillingcarrier in engagement with tli'e end winding of the filling and to bearrested in its longitudinal movement thereby until the. filling isexhausted to .fi

predetermined distance from the butt of the filling carrier.

23. A loom having, in combination, a lay,l a shuttle, a filling carrier,and a` filling feelerinechanism comprising a feeler lever adaptedto havea 'filling'feeling movement longitudinally of the filling carrier, a.filling 4engaging member'yieldingly and recipro-` catngly mounted onthe'feelei' lever adapted to move along the surface ofth'egfillingcarrier in engagement with the endl winding of thefilling'and to be arrested therebyuntil the filling is exhausted .'toapredetermined distance from the butt of thefilling carrier,

and a controller for the'feeler lever.

24. A loom having, in combination, lay, a shuttle, a filling carrier,and a l feeler mechanism comprising ja filling feeler adapted tov movealong and in en agement with the denuded surface of the fi ling car#-rier in engagement with the end winding ofA the filling and to'bearrested in its longitudinalmotion thereby until the fil-lin isexhausted to a predetermineddistance romthe lbutt of the fillingcarrier, and a con. troller for the feeler.

- ment with the' end win v25. A loom having, combination, a luy, n.shuttle n filling carrier, und n fillingfeeler mechanism ,including efilling eeler adapted 4to engage the vunwounl 'surface of thev fillingcarrier when the filling ther-eenhes been exf hau'stecl toAa'predetermined extent; and 'to travel nl on the ,unwound surface"t'wmfcl the butt enof. thefillin carrier in engage;

ing' of the filling, and means forV causing the filling; feelei totreve'll silong ltle unwound'v surfzice` of the enga ement withth'e`11nvv ound surfce of the lling carrier when the lill1ng-thereon I 27. Afilling if'eelei"mechanism 4for looms 'heving','in Combination', afillingl feeler, u.

feeler .controller "having provision for 4holding. the fillinglfeeler innormal position until the lutter xhas been engaged by thellingl'carrier, :ind ineens'` for imparting arecip rocetOry-and e swingingmovement to the structed and arringed sothat as -it jsv'vins it travelsalong and in engagement with t e lenuded surface of the filling carrier,being.

controlled in its svvinginginevement by the unw'inding filling.

28. A loom he'ving1 in combination, a; `leg/,j4

i ashuttle, filling carrier, and 1 1 filling feeler lmechanism includinga filling4 feeler adapted, when the l'illnp;l on the fillmgcurrier h usbeen exhausted to ai predetermined eltern-ioheve n' fillingr feelingmovement lonitudi-Q nelly of undin enga ement 'with te'unwound surfce ofthev ling eerifier and with the-'1 end winding of the filling, und to"be 'been exhaustedV to u. predetermined. point from the butt end vofthe filling carrier, and.

means for imparting the filling feeling.

holding the filling eeler in normal i controlled by the unwindnglling.arrested by theltter until the filling-has r n 'shuttle',"u filling`carrier, and a'll-ingfeeler.

' mechanism including a movable--lilling'feeler.

having* provision for Amovement transversely of the fillingy carrie;`until the Iilling thereon",

has been' exhausted ton- 'predetermined'exf tent.l end 'havingprovision' for iirpt-al inovchas been exhausted to a'pregzletermined"ex-- movementof thefilli-ng' feeler.

30. A'lling feele'r.fmeeh'xr'nism` for looms .ment when,.-the filling`onlthe ,'lling 'carrier f tent, said filling fee'ler lniving n fillingngiaging nrt constructed und arranged to'lie" yielding y 'pressed'against the unw'ound -surface ofthe' filling carrier soins to-eng'gethef .Y

.end .windingl of' the filling during the pivotal.'

ingy pressing the feelerftowarfd-'thele'y and hol ing,A it innormal'position ,until- 1t;` has been engaged by-,the fillin.eu'rrier,..saigl' 7" feeler being 'constructed-fen y.a'rriinged 'sothetns ^'itswings its filling; en ngingen'd. presses against andmovesalong t e'-'denuded` 4surface of the flln'g'carrier .in 'engagementl l l -Witli'the exhaustin 'e fil-ling feeler, su'id Yfillingeelerbeingeon# fillin l .3L A 'fillingiee er mec enisni' for loomsmovement bothtransverse to the lilliif'ea-r# rier end-longitudinallythereof, means fm:-l

`ositionuntil it has 'been .engaged b y .the lill beingconstruetedandarrenged sothatfa's it moves longitudinally 'its'lfilling-engaging en cl presses against 'and moves-dong the dre-4 nudeds''face of the filling carrier'anlis CLARE Hjiiniti'miz. xWitnessesf .i

CLARENCE EQ'RNOLD, WALLACE E.' Wn'rxin.

85 ngear l ri'er, and means for'impartingtrunsverseand, longitudinal.movements to, th'e illingLen-' 1 geging end of the' lilling feelenxsaidfeeler.'

Joules NonTHRoP.. g.

